The Ultimate Australia Bucket List
As I stepped off the plane all I could think was, “am I really here? Is this real life? Am I actually in Australia right now?!” The answer was obviously yes, and the proof was in my sore legs that had been cramped on a plane for 20 hours as we flew over the Pacific Ocean. I had been dreaming about coming to Australia since I was 10 years old and watching the Crocodile Hunter, and now I was finally here. I was unbelievably excited – I do not think I have been as excited about anything in my whole life.
I left the snowy cold winds of the Canadian winter and was pleasantly greeted by the warm golden sunshine filled Aussie summer. I spent six months living down under and while I was there I experienced everything that I had ever wished I would do in Australia. It was a trip of a lifetime and I often refer to those six months as the highlight of my life, even though the adventures following this trip were just as amazing and fun.
Australia is a large country with so many attractions to see and adventures to live. It is home to wild animals, some of the world’s best beaches, laid back friendly people, and heaps of cool places to explore. Here are some awesome outdoor adventures and cities you need to explore while in Australia.
Adventures:
One of the most amazing experiences I have ever had was scuba diving at The Great Barrier Reef. The underwater views of fluorescent coloured fish and coral are absolutely breathtaking.
Australia is known for its surf culture, and surfing is a must try for anyone visiting the country. If you are a surfer then you must surf at Surfers Paradise and if you are a beginner why not learn to surf at the Gold Coast’s Surfers Paradise! It is a stunning place to surf, definitely living up to its name – an absolute paradise.
Red sand, wild kangaroos, poisonous snakes, OH MY! I have been on a few different camping trips in the outback, and they have all been amazing. The view of stars was unbelievable, at one location it felt like I could see the whole Milky Way! I also saw so many wild kangaroos which was a dream come true. Pro tip: While you can have a lot of fun camping in the outback, please keep in mind that Australia is home to a ridiculously large amount of poisonous (and when feeling threatened) dangerous animals and plants. I have seen brown snakes, tarantulas, scorpions, and poisonous frogs in the wild and I know a few people that have been injured because they got to close to a kangaroo. Please be smart and do your reach on what you should be looking for, and what to avoid. If it’s your first time in Australia, maybe try a guided camping tour.
Spend the day hiking through one of the world’s lush and rich rainforest. There are numerous walking trails you can take to experience the beauty of the unique nature and wildlife. Pro tip: Stay on the path. Stay on the path. STAY ON THE PATH! As I mentioned above, Australia has poisonous (and when feeling threatened) dangerous animals and plants and the Daintree Rainforest is home to both. Among the vegetation of the Daintree Rainforest is the world’s most venomous plants, Stinging Tree, Wait-A-While and The Tar Tree. I had a friend who left the path to get a better photo and ran right into a Stinging Tree plant and had to be rushed to the hospital. If you stick to the path and do not touch the vegetation you should be okay. 
This is one of the more adventurous attractions in the city of Sydney. Get the best 360 degree view of Sydney Harbour as you climb up and over the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Fraser Island is the world’s largest sand beach and is located in Queensland Australia. It is made up of perfect white sandy beaches, lush green veg, and crystal blue waters. There are endless things to do on the island, like explore beaches, parks and shipwrecks, whale watch, go four wheeling, watch the sunset and more.
Rated one of the best skydiving locations in the world, Wollongong Beach in an epic location to skydive and has one of the best views.
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Road trip up the east coast:
Drive from Melbourne to Cairns and live the road trip of a lifetime! This is a great way to see the whole east coast and you get to stop in some amazing cities and towns and see some of the world’s most beautiful beaches. You can rent a car or camper-van from Jucy.
West coast of Australia is often overlooked by first time visitors, because there are more attractions and cities on the east coast. However, I highly recommend you explore all of Australia and definitely hop over to Margaret River. It is a small town a few miles from Perth, home to some great surf locations, great paddle board locations, beaches, caves, breweries, shops and more.
Cage diving was an amazing experience where I got to see just how beautiful and majestic Great White Sharks really are. It is something that I recommend everyone try before they die. You can cage dive in Port Lincoln, Southern Australia.
Get a very big dose of adrenaline and an amazing view as you bungee jump in Brisbane or Cairns.
You will be blown away by the red sand and boost your Instagram likes with stunning photo’s of one of Australia’s most iconic sites, Ayers rock. 
Cities:
Perth:
Perth is a vibrant, artistic city with a bustling downtown that’s mixed with a laid-back beach town. I spent every day exploring unique cafes, shops and bars in the city and soaked in the sun while watching surfers ride waves on white sandy beaches. It has all the excitement of a city while at the same time, it’s a paradise on the Indian Ocean.
Brisbane:
Brisbane is a modern and fun city that is home to creative art galleries, trendy restaurants and a happening nightlife. You can spend your days exploring parks, taking in the views of it’s turquoise waters, stunning beaches, spotting whales, dolphins, sea turtles and spend your nights enjoying live music on a rooftop bar, taking a ghost tour or dancing at one of its many happening clubs. It is one of my favourite cities in the world, and I recommend you take some time to enjoy it.
Sunshine Coast:
The Sunshine Coast is my favourite place in the whole world. When I meet new people I like to ask them, “If you could do anything in the world right now, money wasn’t an issues and you had all the technical advantages necessary, what would you do?” My answer to this question is, I would teleport to the Sunshine Coast and live the surfers life. It is a gorgeous area that is filled with perfect beaches, surf, fashion shops, and hip cafes.
Sydney:
Also known as the Harbour City, Sydney is Australia’s most populous city. It is home to endless amounts of attractions, iconic sites, stunning beaches as well as parks and trails. It has a great mix of history, fashion, cuisine, art, nature, surfers and beaches. 
Cairns:
Cairns is the tropical city in Northern Queensland and is known as the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and mountainous rainforest region. It is a great city to learn some of the history and stories of the Aboriginal cultural. Be sure to explore all of the cafes, markets and swimming lagoons located along Cairns’ Esplanade.
Melbourne:
Melbourne is a fun, artsy, cosmopolitan cities, that has many restaurants, bars, galleries, gardens, parks, and shops for you to explore. The street art in Melbourne is legendary and is said to be some of the best in the world.
Byron Bay:
Experience the boho Byron vibe as you enjoy the view of surfers enjoying epic waves at beautiful white sandy beaches. You can enjoy yoga classes, surf lessons, trendy restaurants, pubs, boutiques and of course some of the world’s best sunsets. You can meet many backpackers from all over the world and the cool, laid backed hippie vibing, yet modern locals.
When to go:
I have been to Australia numerous times during different seasons of the year and I can honestly, say that I have loved exploring the country no matter what the weather was like. The most popular time to visit down under would be during their summer, and it is when you will get to experience longer days filled with the sun, and heat that Australia is known for.
Spring: September, October, November
Summer: December, January, February
Fall: March, April, May
Winter: June, July, August
If Australia is a place that you have been dreaming about exploring then you MUST cross it off your bucket list as soon as possible. It is my favourite country in the whole world because it has a great mix of beautiful scenery, epic adventures, unique wildlife and laid back people. Please take my advice and explore Australia. If you need help planning your trip feel free to contact me.
Send you good vibes on all your epic adventures,
